Europe has unveiled an ambitious plan to boost its competitiveness in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and make up for the lag behind the United States and China.
The new “Action Plan for the AI Continent”, presented by the European Commission, aims to transform the established European industries and the vast pool of talent into engines of innovation.
Specifically focusing on advanced infrastructure, regulatory simplification, and targeted support for startups.
A network of gigafactories for AI in Europe
Among the key actions of the plan is the creation of a network of so-called factories of intelligenza artificiale. These infrastructures, equipped with cutting-edge chips, will be tasked with enhancing the development and training of high-performance AI models.
The factories will constitute a critical infrastructure to improve access to quality training data, an essential element for the competitiveness of businesses in the digital economy.
The strategy also includes the creation of specialized laboratories, designed in particular to facilitate the use of AI by startups.
The goal is to democratize innovation, making the development of intelligent technologies on a European scale simpler and more accessible.
To help companies adapt to the new regulatory framework, the EU will establish a Service Desk dedicated to the AI Act, the historic law on artificial intelligence approved by the European Parliament.
The service will act as a centralized point of contact to provide information, tools, and guidelines on the application of the regulations.
According to the Commission, the European AI law is designed to strengthen citizens’ trust, while at the same time offering greater legal certainty to entrepreneurs and investors.
By regulating AI applications according to their level of risk, the EU aims to promote a safe environment while at the same time being conducive to innovation.
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Regulation under pressure
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The initiative comes at a crucial time, in which many technological leaders have accused Europe of adopting regulatory approaches that are too strict, such as to hinder the growth of new enterprises.
In particular, the AI law has been modified over time to include within its scope the so-called modelli fondamentali, such as those developed by the American OpenAI or the French Mistral.
This has raised the concern of companies in the sector, who fear seeing their ability to innovate quickly compromised.
During a recent summit on AI in Paris, Chris Lehane, Chief Global Affairs Officer of OpenAI, highlighted the tension between the vision of the EU and that of some member states.
According to Lehane, many European players fear that an excessive emphasis on risks could cause Europe to miss the innovation train.
The new plan seems to aim to address precisely these criticisms. As highlighted by John Buyers, a global AI expert at the law firm Osborne Clarke, there is a growing attempt by the EU to lighten the regulatory burden and break down bureaucratic barriers.
This change of course could have positive effects well beyond European borders, also affecting US and British companies that provide technologies to Europe.
In fact, the AI Act has an extraterritorial scope, applying to all AI solutions used within the territory of the Union, even if developed elsewhere.
Greater regulatory clarity, like that which the Service Desk aims to offer, could therefore prove to be an incentive even for international developers.
Parallels with the United Kingdom
Interesting to note how the European project shows similarities with the strategies recently adopted in the United Kingdom.
London has also declared its intention to strengthen the national infrastructure dedicated to AI, offering resources to developers through targeted investments.
The result is an increasingly fierce competition among the main geopolitical blocs, each committed to finding the best compromise between regulation, innovation, and economic growth.
The growing importance of artificial intelligence as a lever for national development has made European policies a topic of discussion even overseas.
The Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, has openly criticized Brussels’ regulatory approach, emphasizing the need to look at this “new frontier” with optimism rather than concern.
Europe, however, seems intent on following its own path: regulating in a structured manner to avoid abuses, while at the same time providing the tools to foster competitiveness in the long term.
With this plan, the European Union does not merely react to the criticisms of the tech sector, but sends a clear message: it wants to lead the development of artificial intelligence in a responsible and strategic way.
The creation of robust structures, regulatory support for businesses, and the expansion of data access position the continent as an increasingly authoritative player in the global AI landscape.
In a future dominated by algorithms, automation, and intelligent processing, Europe does not want to fall behind. On the contrary, it aims to become the “continent of AI”, choosing to focus on sustainable innovation, transparency, and inclusivity.
